colloquially

Everyday

In everyday, informal speech, not in formal writing: «A television is colloquially called a telly». tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons pupils learn that some words are used colloquially, like «loo» for toilet or «arvo» for afternoon in Australia. The dictionary marks such words informal or slang. In the exam voice, «colloquially known as» introduces the everyday name.

Examples

• A policeman is colloquially called a cop. tree →
• The plant is colloquially known as «the sticky weed». tree →
• In Australia, afternoon is colloquially «arvo». tree →
• Spoken colloquially, «going to» becomes «gonna». tree →
• The tower is colloquially called «the Gherkin». tree →
• Money is colloquially called «dosh» in the UK. tree →

Note

Spelling: col-lo-qui-al-ly, double «l» twice. Adjective «colloquial», noun «colloquialism» (an informal word or phrase). Not the same as slang: colloquial is just relaxed everyday talk.